The following is from our friends at American Family Association -- with
'friends' like this, who needs enemies?

ACTION LETTER

DONALD E. WILDMON, President
AMERICAN Family AssociATiON

Dear AFA friend,

There is a battle going on in our country! And it is going to affect you,
your children and your grandchildrenl I hope, if for no other reason, you
will get involved.

A few weeks ago I received a letter from a supporter who wrote that AFA was
spending too much energy and ink opposing the gay movement. He also charged
that we are too harsh on homosexuals.

Naturally, my first inclination was to defend AFA. However the letter made
me consider that maybe it was time to rethink our position on the issue. I
wanted to make sure that our attitudes and actions were in accord with
scripture and maintained the honor of Christ.

The result is the list of guiding principles found later in this letter. I
want you to read them carefully. Then let me know what you think by
returning the enclosed opinion survey.

But first, please let me give you a little history of AFA's opposition to
the gay movement.

Around the time I began this ministry in 1977, gay rights supporters in the
secular media began openly promoting homosexual behavior as morally
equivalent to heterosexual relationships.

One of the very first fights in which your AFA engaged was over NBC's "Love
Sydney," a show which featured actor Tony Randall as a gay man. This was
the first network TV show that featured a homosexual as the leading
character. Of course today openly gay prime-time characters are common on
network TV. Disney/ABC's infamous "Ellen" is just one example.

During the lifetime of AFA, the movement to normalize homosexual behavior
has exploded on the American scene. Gay activists have captured the support
of politicians, educational leaders, entertainment/media elite, businesses
and sadly, many of our church leaders.

I never dreamed I would see the day when sodomy would be called normal, and
those who held to traditional values based on Christian teaching would be
called bigots.

Today, if you publicly oppose homosexuality - even with reason, humility and
mercy - you can expect to be ridiculed or censored by the liberal media and
the cultural elites.

Remember what happened to pro football star Reggie White earlier this
spring? Now Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott is being attacked from all
quarters for his comments on a recent radio talk show. When asked if he
thought homosexuality was sinful, he said:

"Yeah, it is.... You should still love that person. You should not try and
mistreat them or treat them as outcasts. You should try and show them a way
to deal with that problem, just like alcohol ... or sex addiction ... or
kleptomaniacs."

" There are kinds of problems, addictions, difficulties, experiences of
things that are wrong, but you should try to work with that person to learn
to control that problem."

You would have thought Sen. Lott was Adolph Hitler the way the media and
gay advocacy groups jumped on him.

Another example: About two months ago AFA learned that our Internet web site
had been blocked by CyberPatrol, the most popular Internet filtering
software, on the grounds of "intolerance" for our opposition to the gay
movement. The category was previously reserved for Nazis and Klansmen.

One report observed that the makers of CyberPatrol obviously believe "young
minds ... need to be protected from the heinous, shocking ideas of moral
conservatives." Meanwhile, CyberPatrol users have full access to Internet
sites run by various gay-rights groups.

Columnist Cal Thomas predicted in the late 1980s that homosexuality would be
the preeminent moral question Americans would debate in the '90s. As we
near the end of this decade it seems Cal was right.

The issue is huge and willcertainly touch the life of every American citizen
parent, businessman, student, clergy, professional and laborer. I believe
those of us who care about the moral future of our culture must be ready to
thoughtfully and Biblically give a defense for our opposition.

Below I have outlined principles that guide AFA's attitude and actions in
opposing the normalization of homosexuality in our society. I hope these
are helpful to you, honoring to Christ and compassionate toward those who
want help.

These are working principles and subject to being refined and restated.
That's why I want your input. So don't forget to complete and return the
enclosed survey. We will publish the results in an upcoming mailing.

PRINCIPLES WHICH GUIDE AFA'S OPPOSITION TO THE GAY AGENDA
1. The scripture declares that homosexuality is unnatural and sinful. It is
a sin grievous to God and repulsive to Christians because it rejects God's
design for mankind as heterosexual beings.
2. Though there may be many influences in a person's life, the root of
homosexuality is a sinful heart. Therefore, homosexuals have only one hope
of being reconciled to God and rejecting their sinful behavior - faith in
Jesus Christ alone. AFA seeks to use every opportunity to promote and
encourage the efforts of ex-gay ministries and organizations.
3. It is the duty of individual Christians and Christ's Church corporately
to bring the gospel to homosexuals and to speak out against the acceptance
of sin in our culture.
4. We oppose the gay movement's efforts to convince our society that their
behavior is normal because we fear the judgment of God on our nation.
S. The gay movement is a progressive outgrowth of the sexual revolution of
the past 40 years and will lead to the normalization of even more deviant
behavior.
6. The gay movement's promotion of same-sex marriage undermines the
God-ordained institution of marriage and family which is the foundation of
all societies.
7. We oppose the efforts of the gay movement to force its agenda in
education, government, business and the workplace through law, public policy
and the media. Our strong opposition is a reasoned response to the gay
movement's aggressive strategies.
8. We oppose the effort to convince our culture that because individuals
participate in homosexual behavior, they have earned the right to be
protected like racial and other minority groups.
9. While we are resolute in our opposition to the gay movement, we recognize
the importance of maintaining Christian integrity in all our efforts. By
God's grace we will reject the temptation to become bitter or hateful in our
words or actions.
10. Finally, we seek faithfulness more than victory. We work with the
confidence that the one true Sovereign God of the Bible will fulfill His
purposes.

There is so much more that could be said about the impact, influence and
power of the gay movement. But right now it's enough to say that this issue
is a main battle front in the war for the soul of America. And, honestly,
we are losing.

But let me make something clear, if I haven't already. AFA's opposition is
a political and social opposition. While we want to encourage individual
Christians and the Church to take the claims of Christ to all people,
including homosexuals, we want to be careful to uphold the dignity and worth
of each person. We are not fighting against individuals, but against a
movement that wants to force our society to believe that evil is good and
good is evil.

The truth is, if homosexuals lived quiet and private lives, not desperately
seeking to have society affirm their behavior, AFA would not be in this
fight. There wouldn't be an issue for AFA to oppose.

But because gay activists are "tak:ing it to the streets," we will meet them
with opposition, not with a mean spirit, but a confident resolve that we are
standing for God's truth.

I want your opinion. Please complete the enclosed survey and return it.
And please send a generous gift of $20, $50, $100 or more to help us win
this battle. Your financial support allows us to continue the fight on
behalf of our children and grandchildren!

You were once an active supporter of AFA and I ask you to get back in the
battle. We need you in the battle for your children and grandchildren.
Believe me, those pushing the radical homosexual agenda have plans for your
children and grandchildren. If we lose, they lose.

Please respond today. And be sure to mail the card to Sen. Lott (better
yet, write him a personal letter).

Please return the survey today along with a generous tax-deductible
donation. Thanks and God bless you!

In Christ,

Don

PS: Even if you can't send a gift, please complete the enclosed survey and
it in the postage paid envelope. Then, sign and mail the postcard to Sen.
Lott. he needs your encouragement.

~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Gay movement opinion survey

Please "X" the square that most closely reflects your opinion on each statement.

DISAGREE - AGREE

Homosexuality is unnatural and sinful.

Homosexuals, like all people, need Christ.

Christians should take the gospel to homosexuals.

Christians should speak out against the normalization of homosexual
behavior in our society.

God could judge our nation for its approval of immorality.

Society's approval of homosexuality will lead to the normalization of even
more deviant behavior.

The gay movement's promotion of same-sex marriage undermines the
God-ordained institutions of marriage and family.

I oppose the gay movement's attempt to force the acceptance of
homosexuality in education, government, business and other institutions.

Homosexuals should be considered a protected class of citizenry, similar
to racial minority groups.

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